Our programmes are for international students who do not yet have the academic or language qualifications that the University requires for direct entry to a degree programme.

We recognise that there are many able students whose first language is not English, who will benefit from our integrated approach to the study of language and academic subjects.

Even if you have a strong command of English, the demands of studying at a university like St Andrews can be very different from your previous studying experience.

We have a limited number of places for each programme, so we recommend that you apply early. If you have not yet graduated from high school or university, or achieved your final qualifications, you should still apply. We can make you an offer conditional on your results.

In the academic year 2011/12 we had 100 undergraduate foundation students and 32 postgraduate foundation students.

Our programmes are all multi-national and in the academic year 2011/12 our students represented 29 different countries from around the world:

• Austria
• Bahrain
• China
• Czech Republic
• Egypt
• Georgia
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iran
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Romania
• Russia
• South Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Scotland
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Vietnam
• Zambia

You will be in class for a minimum of 20 hours a week, and if you are studying Science or Medicine, you will have additional hours dedicated to practical sessions in the laboratory.

Our class sizes are small - typically 12 students - so that tutors can monitor the progress of individual students closely, and the number of places is limited so that we can provide each student with as much individual support and guidance as possible.

Support tutorials tend to range between 6 - 12 students and personal tutorials, which are compulsory for all CIFP students in the first term, are on a one-to-one basis with a CIFP tutor.

Science and Medicine students will also study 1000 level science modules along with first year University students. For these modules, lectures tend to be between 150 - 200 students, laboratory practical sessions are small at around 12 students per group.

All classes and lectures take place in the University teaching faciltiies. Small group teaching - English for Academic Purposes classes and some academic seminars and tutorials - are mostly at the English Language Teaching building, Kinnessburn, which is the home of the CIFP.

All foundation students are guaranteed an individual study bedroom in a University Hall of Residence.

Undergraduate foundation students will all be allocated rooms in David Russell Apartments.

Postgraduate foundation students can choose between superior accommodation in David Russell Apartments or standard accommodation in Fife Park.

We welcome applications from students from all over the world – we typically have some 30 different nationalities studying with us. What they have is common is that they were successful in their own country’s school system.

We are looking for evidence of a good academic record because we aim to select students who will be successful not only on their foundation programme but also when they progress onto a degree programme at the University. Check the particular webpage of the programme you are interested in to see if there are any specific academic requirements.

For language entry requirements, please refer to our foundation language requirements webpage.

All students are interviewed in person or on Skype, and you may also be asked to write an entrance test paper. Students applying to study Medicine must also complete the UKCAT before taking up their place on the programme.

Our all-inclusive fee covers all the major costs of your foundation year, including:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation fees
• An airport transfer upon arrival
• Course books, handouts and other materials
• Laboratory coats and dissection kits, if required
• 24 hour emergency phone number
• An excursion
• Access to all University facilities